How to Measure

The Short Answer

While it is possible to make our shutters
operable by choosing the correct hinge system (see Installation
Instructions for more information), we generally recommend a fixed
mounting system. With fixed mounting, the width of a pair of shutters does not have to add up to
the exact width of the window, so our standard shutters come in 15-inches wide
[other widths are available at additional cost]. In this case, it is only
necessary that you measure the height of your window to ensure that
the shutters will appear as though they could be operable.

If you really intend
to close your shutters at some point, you should take extra care to
get the correct measurements for both the width and height. At a minimum, measure both the width
and height at several locations and record the smallest of these
measurements. This is necessary because your windows may be out of
square a small amount which could cause binding. It's also important to measure each window,
since one window may be slightly different than the next. You can either order
all of the shutters for the same size window using
the smallest recorded dimensions, or you can order for each window individually
for a more precise fit. When you place your order, make sure to let us know if your shutters will be operable and, if so, whether the dimensions you supply are exact or if the shutters should be made slightly smaller to provide proper clearance.

Remember, since all of our shutters are custom-made, we cannot accept returns for
credit or refund due to improper measurement unless we have made a mistake in
your order.

The Long Answer

Figure 1: shutters are too wide

House
restoration purists shudder (pun intended) when they see shutters
that don't "properly" fit. Conventional wisdom holds that
even shutters which are not operable should be sized to fit the
window as though they were operable. So to achieve a more
traditional look, measure the window opening into which a closed
shutter would fit. Then order your shutters in that height
and width. We'll make your shutters about 1/4 inch smaller in both
dimensions for proper clearance.

Figure 2: shutters are too narrow

On the other hand, most
windows are around 30 inches wide. And, most
people find that extremely wide or extremely narrow shutters look
awkward (figures 1 and 2),
even when they are properly sized to fit the
window. A 15-inch wide shutter looks right to most people on just about
any window that is 36 inches high or more, provided the shutter is
about the same height as the window. That's why our standard shutters
are 15 inches wide [all of the Shutterstile shutters in the photos on our website
are 15-inches wide].
We've also designed the replaceable tile panels to look best on a 15-inch
shutter. So if you don't plan to make your shutters operable, and your
windows are around 30 inches wide, why not save a few dollars
and order the standard width.

Figure 3: double shutters on extra-wide windows

But
what do you do if your window is significantly wider than 30 inches?
Operable shutters solve this problem with two double shutters that
may be mounted side-by-side (figure 3), but are more commonly folded over
to give the appearance of a single, half-width shutter from the
street. So you could achieve the appearance of an operable
shutter on a wide window with a single shutter on each side of the
window that is 1/4 the size of the window opening. On the other hand,
contemporary exterior designers often suggest that you avoid shutters
on picture windows or any window that is too large to support an
operable shutter (figure 4).

Figure 4: shutters out of proportion

There
is less consensus among the experts on how to deal with unusually
narrow windows or windows that are too close to some obstruction or to another window to
install shutters on both sides. Some experts recommend a single
shutter equal to the width of the window, placed on one side only
(figure 5). Others caution against using shutters in these cases.

Figure 5: a single shutter for each window

We've
all seen houses with properly proportioned shutters that just don't
look right. The experts would tell you that the problem is with the
windows, not the shutters. But unless you intend a major remodel, you
have to work with what you've got. Personally, we think that modern
shutters are more about aesthetics than functionality. These days,
shutters frame the windows and provide a decorative element that
improves curb appeal. So you should do what looks good to you. If
that means putting a 15-inch wide shutter on a picture window to
break up that expanse of blank glass, we say go for it.